REVIEW: "Shadow Show: Stories In Celebration of Ray Bradbury" by Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, et al.

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Release Date: July 7th, 2015

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic Books, IDW Publishing, Anthology, Short Stories, Science Fiction, Ray Bradbury is the bomb

About the Book: In Shadow Show, acclaimed writers and artists such as Joe Hill, Mort Castle, Audrey Niffeneffer, Charles Paul Wilson III, Maria Frohlich, Eddie Campbell, Neil Gaiman, and more come together to pay tribute to the work of the one and only Ray Bradbury. In this collection are stories based on "By The Silver Water of Lake Champlain," "The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury," "Backward in Seville," "Weariness," "Live Forever!," "Who Knocks?," "Earth (A Gift Shop)," "Altenmoor, Where the Dogs Dance," and "Conjure." [Description provided by Netgalley.com]

My Review: Reviewing anthologies can always be difficult, since there is multiple authors and therefore multiple styles. Usually they run either really amazing, or ultimately forgettable. Shadow Show falls right down the middle of the road. There was one story that scared me, another that made me very sad, and a few I couldn't wait to end because they were mildly boring.

Anthologies are tough enough, but imagine a graphic novel anthology, where each story has to be broken up into panels. As a collection of short stories celebrating the great Ray Bradbury, this anthology is just okay. But as a collection of comic shorts, this was very well done. The art was great, and each singular graphic novel flows well into the next one.

Cover Lovin': This cover is all over the place - which is very fitting considering that is how the book runs as well. This cover also looks very similar to the Unwritten series by Mike Carey.

Recommendation: For fans of Ray Bradbury, of course!

Final Rating: THREE out of FIVE stars (3/5). Like all anthologies, some stories were amazing, and some were... not-so. And therefore, it evens out to a solid, enjoyable three.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland" by Eric Shanower

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thanks Netgalley!

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic books, Fantasy, All-Ages, Oh my - it's my childhood calling!

About the Book: An all-new, all-ages series full of magic and whimsy from award-winning creators Eric Shanower (Adventures in Oz) and Gabriel Rodriguez (Locke & Key)! Spinning out of Winsor McKay's brilliant early 20th Century strip, Return to Slumberland sees King Morpheus' daughter, in the Royal Palace of Slumberland, selecting her next-playmate — Nemo! Only Nemo has no interest in being anyone's playmate, dream or no dream! [Description provided by Netgalley.com]

My Review: I'll admit it, I love the Little Nemo movie. It wasn't until I was adult that I even knew it had been a comic. This new graphic novel, "Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland" is a continuation of the old stories. The original Little Nemo has moved on, now the Princess needs a new playmate - and who better than someone with the middle name Nemo! I loved seeing some of the original characters back in action, and to see how a new young boy would deal with the weirdness and magic of Slumberland.

This is one of those graphic novels that will appeal to people of many ages. Little kids would enjoy reading this just as much as the adults who are familiar with the older versions. This graphic novel provides enough of a back story and explanation of Slumberland that new readers can jump right in, but it's not so overloaded that people already familiar with the story would feel bored. A great, fun read, I am already eager for more!

And the art is dead on. It just felt perfect.

Cover Lovin': Love it! Very reminiscent of the stories and movie.

Recommendation: For old fans of the original stories, and new lovers of fantasy.

Final Rating: FOUR POINT FIVE out of FIVE stars (4.5/5). Great art, great story, I want more!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "The Bigger Bang" by Vassilis Gogtzilas

Disclaimer: This book was given to be in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Mythology, Not a series?, The Big Bang (but Bigger!)

About the Book: The Big Bang created all life as we know it. The Bigger Bang creates just one: a being named Cosmos. Is he a destroyer? A hero? A god? All he knows is that he's completely alone in what was our universe... so he seeks out another where he'll try to atone for the sins of his mysterious creation. [Description provided by Netgalley.com]

My Review: This is a perfect example of a comic book that tries to be something epic and high brow, but falls short. Comic books and graphic novels are a visual medium, so I'm not sure why this story felt like it had to tell me what was happening instead of showing me. And there was such flowery language used in places, it felt like a dime store novel was trying to be a literary great. It just didn't work.

I liked the meat of the story, but I think it could have been done better. Maybe if this was longer, more fleshed out, it would have fared better. However, the "telling, not showing" and the art didn't do it for me. The cover is very artful, and I can even see that being an awesome art print in a comic book shop, or in someone's private collection. But the book itself just... well, as I said, it just felt like it was trying too hard.

Cover Lovin': While I do like how art-y this cover is, I can't say it's very eye catching, or gives the reader any idea of the story. So overall, not great.

Recommendation: For lovers of large epic stories told in a very small space.

Final Rating: THREE out of FIVE stars (3/5). This had some great points, but overall, it wasn't wow-worthy.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction~!~

REVIEW: Edward Scissorhands Volume 1: Parts Unknown by Kate Leth and Drew Rausch

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thanks Netgalley!

Release Date: May 19, 2015

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, IDW Publishing, Movie Tie-in, Series, Science Fiction, But how does he use the restroom with scissorhands?

About the Book: An all-new adventure revisiting Edward Scissorhands' two decades after the end of the fan-favorite movie! In a castle just outside a sleepy suburban town, a brilliant inventor created Edward Scissorhands…but left him tragically unfinished. Two generations of exile have left Edward digging through abandoned experiments, but once he wakes up a creature left buried, he discovers he isn't the only one missing a vital piece. As Edward tries to fix a grave mistake, he comes face-to-face with a teenage girl who was sure he was only myth... despite the stories her grandmother told her about the man she could never touch. [Description provided by Netgalley.com]

My Review: Talk about a blast from the past. When this was offered up for a review, I jumped at the chance. Poor Edward has been hiding up in his castle for years. And when he gets so lonely that he decides to wake up another invention made by Edward's own creator. Unfortunately, this doesn't turn out well, at all. This graphic novel definitely fits in with the tone of the movie. Comical, in places, but very dark. If you could have a lighthearted dark story, then Edward Scissorhands, this comic book included, would be the very definition.

Sometimes it is hard to review a book that you loved, but it also made you a little depressed. You're not sure what to focus on, because the stuff that made you depressed isn't bad, it's just part of what makes it good. So I'll just say this - I desperately want more Edward Scissorhands. This was a great read, and I cannot wait to read more.

Cover Lovin': Excellent cover! Super well done. Love the art, love the hedge creations. Reminiscent of the beloved movie but still being something new and original.

Recommendation: For fans of the movie, for sure.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). Darker tone, but I loved and relished the chance to return to the Edward Scissorhands world.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "Rot & Ruin: Warrior Smart" by Jonathan Maberry

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Release Date: April 21, 2015

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Series, Zombies, Young Adult, Teen, IDW Publishing, I think I've heard this before..

About the Book: Brand-new adventures set in the world of Rot & Ruin! 

Written by New York Times best-selling author and multiple Bram Stoker award-winner, Jonathan Maberry, this all-new storyline continues events from the award-winning series of novels. 
We meet Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong as they travel through the Sierra Nevada mountains just one faltering step ahead of zombie hordes and one giant leap behind the plane flying through the sky that set them on their journey of discovery. [Description provided by Netgalley.com]
My Review: I'm going to start with what I didn't like about this, and end on a positive note. My biggest issue with this graphic novel was the cliched story line. There were some new twists on something I've seen several times in post-apocalyptic stories (SPOILERS: women as broodmares), but at this point, it's getting to be a cliche. The second the farmer guy mentioned "cows"... I knew what was coming.

Next issue: When I read the first novel of this series, I was excited because I knew it would be a great one to suggest to younger teen readers, especially reluctant readers. There were some adult themes, sure, but they were handled well. This graphic novel, however, I would be hesitant to hand over to some of the younger readers.

Now on to what I liked. Despite the cliched story, as I said, there were some new twists to make the story somewhat original. The art was very well done, especially in the fighting scenes, which can be difficult to portray. Clearly the story was good enough to keep me reading. All in all, this is a nice add-on to the series. But nothing spectacular.

Cover Lovin': Pretty good cover. I understand the dark spaces at the top and bottom, but it makes it feel like the cover is unfinished or lacking.

Recommendation: For fans of the series, and for zombie lovers. This can be read by someone unfamiliar with the Rot and Ruin series.

Final Rating: THREE out of FIVE stars. The story was compelling, but it was also pretty cliched and I knew what was coming. Not bad, but nothing spectacular.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~